The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-12-20
CLINTOE'S CAREER.
For the Constitution.

| For the Constitution.
AS the sun went down behind the towering
hills and lofty pines that stretch themselves
! along the Tallapocsa river, Just west of the
| village of Wedowee, regiment of cavalry
made their appearance in the main square Of
| the little town, halted, dsmounted and stacked
| arms. This was on the evening of the 18th day
of January, 1864, and the people of Wedowee
were soon collecting in groups and with anxious
faces discussed the meaning of the visit of the
soldiery, and many speculations were INDUCED
i'll as to the object they had in view.
| The people of this section of Alabama were
about equally divided upon the issues of the
war, but those who now made up the popula-
| ton of Wedowee-prinoipally women and
children-seemed by mutual consent to dwell
together without reference to The terrible
strife, and those able to bear arms who had not
| joined either the union or the confederate
| forces had taken to the mountain fastnesses-
| one to escape being conscripted and thus cut
| Off from opportunity of defending their homes
against the ravages of the bushwhackers, and
| the other for the reason that they still loved
| the old flag and refused to be ruled by the
| government of secession. Out of these circum-
stances grew complications that made the
section the most dangerous for either party
and was cause for many bloody tragedy.
It was sooai learned that tite soldiers had
been sent into this territory for The purpose OF
recruiting, TO enforce the law OF conseription
to gather up deserters and overawe the element
that still chung to the old flag and were OPP
posed to disunion.
Up to this time there were what was known
as mutual men"-men who did not favor the
yankees and yet refused to join the confed-
crate army.
Among the latter was a brawny 'mountaineer
who stood six feet three inches In his stocking
feet, and was rated as the strongest the fleet
est and the bravest man of the section, but yet
the most unassuming of them ALL He was
truly a man of peace till the circumstances
surrounding him forced him TO fight. and the
killing by confederates of his daughters con-
verted him into man fit for the bloody times,
and the name of Lem Clinton became holy
terror.
The bushwhacleers that infested this noun
tain region had striven hard to enlist Clinton
into their ranks, knowing that he was just the
man for leader, and in persistentiy refusing
| to JOIN them he made secret enemies Of them
and he well knew that they only wanted an
opportunity 20 kill him and then wreak their
vengeance upon those who were only safe
under his watehful eye and strong arm.
On the other hand, it was insisted by the
| confederates that Clinton was liable under the
conscript law, and there were those who made
the service, thus placing him between two
fires, ali of which he stood without hinching
and was always found defending the weak
against the depredations Of the factions.
The troops above mentioned took up their
quarters near the little town Of Wedowee and
from thence would go by squads in different
directions, and woo it was to the deserter from
the confederates or the man liable TO the con-
script whom they CHANGED to come up with.
The killing of Clintons two young daughters
was the work of ono of these parties and is q
part Of the history OF the war between the
states.
The Clntons lived in double log house, on
what is known as the "Forl ridge" about
equal distance between the two Tallapoosas--
the Little and the Big Tallapoosa-and upon
the night of the bloody tragedy two young
girls, the mother and n small babe were the
occupants Of the house. One Of the girls
carded the cotton into rolls while tho other
stood at spinning wheel converting the rolls
into thread. The mother sat with her eyes
upon the blazing ligltwood-knot fire that fur
nished light for the apartment, knitting upon
sock for her husband, while one foot tipped
the rocker of a cradle and soothed the babe to
rest The rain battered upon the boards and
the roar Of the waters Of the Iallapoosa
mingled with the zoon Of the spinning wheel
and save these, there had been monotonous
silence fol some time
"Keep the coffee pot by the fire." said the
mother, "for the night IS rough, and / think
your father will come in"
eyes, I've been thinking OF him myself"
spoke the elder girl, 'and / most know he'll
be in tonight, for the river Is up and it's rainy
too, 50 there's no danger from the raiders, and
he can get good rest under his own roof"
AS the last words were uttered, the dogs be-
gan to bark and they started off in a run down
the path that led 70 tho spring.
"That's himi That's hiInl J" spoke all in
chorus.
"Hang out the signal" spoke the mother
for IL was the custom IN those days TO give
warning signals, which had meanings under
stood By the 'layers-out'
The girls dropped their work, and the
mother at once busted herself heating up tho
meal that had been saved in expectation
Of his coming.
In moment more the tall form OF Lem
Clinton stopped as he entered his own door
and holding In one hand the long double-bar-
relied gun which he carried, with tho other he
gave each a hug in turn, and VIC leave them
hero to visit the camp Of the soldiers at We
doWee, and BEE what Is being done there.
81 want twenty volunteers 10 follow me to-
night" said fine calvary lieutenant as no
buckled on his sword and walked among the
men.
~ am going TO raid tho fork this night"
continued the lieutenant, land don't want
man with me but that IL Is willing 10 lie buried
over there, If necessary, 70 break up that nest
Of what they call mutuals'."
il was but a moment 10 secure the yolun-
teeTs and have everything ready for the raid.
The waters Of the Talapoosa were bursting
over every low place along It's banks, and the